The World Association of Lesson Studies (WALS) aims to promote and advance the research and practices focused on Lesson Studies in order to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The structure for this conference involving Keynote Speakers, Paper presentations Symposium presentations, Workshops, Poster presentationand School Visits. It is really a worldwide international event for researchers, educators, school teachers, policy makers and other scholars to share their knowledge among each other.

Introducing Lesson Study into Thai schools has influenced not only the improvement of teaching practice, but also improvement of the system of teacher education. A number of major changes have occurred during the last ten years since the introduction of Lesson Study and the Open Approach in 2002 by Center for Research in Mathematics Education. It has a made a great contribution to improving mathematics education in Thailand. In 2013, there are 60 project schools using Lesson Study and Open Approach. Moreover, the center has shared its knowledge through APEC Lesson Study Project of APEC HRDWG since 2006, which so far 19 APEC member economies have been participating.

Khon Kaen University is 15 minutes by car (10 km) from Khon Kaen airport which is an hour’s flight from Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, Bangkok. A variety of accommodation ranging from university lodges to 4 star hotels can be found in downtown Khon Kaen. We have 2 campus demonstration schools in Khon Kaen University and it takes about 30 minutes to visit our pioneer Lesson Study project school in the Khon Kaen suburbs. Some attractions in the area are the famous Dinosaur Museum in Phu Wiang (87 km) and the excavation site at Phu Kum Khao, Kalasin (118 km). It is about 200 km (a 3 hour drive) from Khon Kaen University to Vientiane, Laos PDR. It is also possible to cross the border to Siem Reap, Cambodia in 8 hours or fly back to Bangkok for a connecting flight to Siem Reap.

I am very pleased that Thailand is the official host for this conference and to have the opportunity to welcome all participants from every country. I am very much looking forward to seeing you at WALS 2015 in Khon Kaen and I am sure that your participation will contribute to the success of the conference.

Organizations: Center for Research in Mathematics Education (CRME), Faculty of Education, Khon Kaen University, Institute for Research and Development in Teaching Profession for ASEAN (RDTP ASEAN) and Society of Mathematics Education (TSMEd)